Spring 2014

The following represents an assessment of the weather experienced across the UK during Spring 2014 (March, April and May) and how it compares with the 1981 to 2010 average.

Following an exceptionally wet and stormy winter season, the weather of spring 2014 was much more benign and unexceptional. Temperatures remained broadly above average, and it was minimum temperatures that were most above average, particularly in April and May. The season brought a mix of settled spells of weather, most notably during mid-March and mid-April, but also some wetter spells. April was a wet month in the Hampshire area, while May was wetter than average for most areas, particularly north-east England.

Mean temperatures over the UK were above the long-term average in each of the spring months; May was the sixth consecutive month with above average temperatures. The overall mean temperature for spring was 9.0 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the average, and a remarkable 3.0 °C warmer than spring 2013. It was the UK's equal-second warmest spring in a series from 1910 (with 2007, while only the spring of 2011 was warmer). For Scotland it was the warmest spring in the series. Nights were often very mild and the UK had its mildest spring for minimum temperatures in a series from 1910. The number of air frosts was also among the lowest on record.

The UK overall received 104% of average spring rainfall. The rainfall pattern was variable with Hampshire the wettest area and north-east Scotland the driest, relative to average. Rainfall totals in March were rather below normal for most parts of the UK, especially East Anglia. April was also rather dry in many areas, but very wet locally in some southern counties of England. May was wetter than average for many, particularly Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and it was the wettest May in north-east England since 1979. The UK overall recorded 84% of average rainfall in March, 93% in April and 142% in May.

For spring overall, Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, and the north-west of both England and Wales were rather duller than normal, whereas the south-east of England and East Anglia were sunnier than average. For the UK overall there was 97% of average sunshine hours. March was a particularly sunny month, April was near average while May dull across the northern half of the UK.

UK statistical summary

UK statistical summary

Mean temperature

Rainfall

Sunshine

The mean value is 9.0 °C, which is 1.3 °C above the 1981-2010 average.